There were 1,259 participants from villages and semi-urban parts of the district for the Tamil Nadu Rural Students Talent Search Examination (TRuST) conducted by the Departments of Government Examination and School Education.
The examination of three-hour duration was conducted at four centres: E.R.Higher Secondary School and Khajamian Higher Secondary School in the city, Musiri Government Boy’s Higher Secondary School, and the Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Lalgudi.
Students in recognised schools outside city and municipality limits in the district with a score of a minimum of 50 per cent in VIII std annual examination were eligible for the examination.
The highest number of 600 students took up the examination in Musiri educational district.
There were 392 students from Lalgudi educational district, and 267 in Tiruchi educational district. Chief Educational Officer K.Selvakumar monitored the conduct of the examination in the city centres.
Featuring objective type questions, the exam is meant to identify students of high scholastic achievement in middle schools and provide them scholarships for higher studies.
Students of all government-recognised schools in rural areas are eligible for the exam.
The annual parental income of the applicants must not exceed Rs.1lakh. School headmasters identify potential students and facilitate them to secure the income certificates from the tahsildhars concerned. A very nominal examination fee is collected from the students.
Every year, 50 boys and 50 girls in a revenue district are entitled to the government scholarship of Rs.1,000 per year till they complete XII standard. They would lose eligibility in the event of being detained or discontinuing studies.
